Cover for a container



Feb. 27, 1962 s, PATTON ETAL 3,022,922

.COVER FOR A CONTAINER Filed Feb. 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z [5' HQ 6FIG! ' INVENTORS RODERICK v, K g BY Feb. 27, 1962 F. s. PATTON ETALCOVER FOR A CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1958 INVENTORSFRfl/V/fl/IY 5 P4770 By Roosmcx v.

United States This invention relates to covers and, more particularly,to covers for containers.

In the art of covers for containers such as aerosol cans and the likewhere the can has a breast with a central valve mounting cup thereonconcentric to the breast, it has been common practice to provide a covermade of two concentric cup portions, the inner cup portion engaging thevalve mounting cup while the outer cup portion engages the outer edge ofthe outer portion of the container of the can. The outer portion of thecover is usually made for the purpose of improving the appearance of thecover and, also, for protecting the outer portion of the inner cover.These covers are expensive to manufacture because they requireadditional material for building both the inner and outer cup portionsand a more complicated manufacturing operation results.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a cover for acontainer which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture,and simple and efiicient to use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cover for a containerwherein the cover is made of a single cup shaped member having agenerally cylindrical side and a closed top portion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cover for a twopiece crown type can or any similar, bottle or container, whether madeof glass, plastic, or any combination of materials usually used in suchenvironment, wherein beads or bumps are formed in the breast of the canand these bumps are used for the purpose of overlying an inwardlyextending ledge on a can lid. The cap must thus have an internalprojection and the projection could be in the form of an internallycurved or rolled edge on the cover having dents therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cover for a can havingan inwardly upwardly curving breast portion and dents formed in thebreast portion forming members which project outwardly from the centerportion, and a coverhaving a lower ring portion having means thereon tobe engaged by the dents and the upwardly extending ring.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improvedcombination of can and cover therefor.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minordetails of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of an improved cover in combination with a canaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of a cover similar to thatshown in FIG. 1 used with a can having dents formed in the breastportion and an upwardly extending rim disposed outwardly of the breastportion;

FIG. 3 is a view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2with the cover removed;

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FIG. 5 is a top view of the can shown in FIG. 1 with the cover removedtherefrom;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the cover and can combination shown inFIG. 2;

' FIGS. 8 and 9- are views of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views of still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a view of yet another embodiment of the A valve mounting .cup14 is attached'to the upperv breast portion 12 by rolling or other wellknown fastening means and a valve 15 is attached thereto in the usualmanner. The breast portion 12 has a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced dents 17 formed therein by forcing the material of the breastportion 12 outwardly or, in thecase of a molded plastic or glass device,the dents 17 could be formed during the molding process.

A cover 18 is agenerally cup shaped cylindrical member having a sideportion 19 integrally connected to a cover top 20 at 21 in the usualmanner. The inner peripheral edge of the side of the cup shaped cover 18is rolled inwardly at 22 to form an inwardly extending edge in themanner shown. The dents 17 are formed in such a way that when the cover18 is put on the can 10 as shown in FIG. 1, the material distortedoutwardly by the dents 17 overlies the inwardly extending edge portion22 and, therefore, holds the cover 18 in position. The materialdistorted by the dents 17, being slightly resilient, generally snapsover the portion 22 when the cover 18 is put in position on the can ItIn the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 7, and 13, a canhaving a breast portion 117 and a top 112 connected thereto terminatesat its outer peripheral edge in a seam which is formed by rolling theouter peripheral edge portion of the material of the breast portion 117under the material of a side 111 in a usual manner. This forms a channelor groove 131 be tween the seam 130 and the breast portion 117. Thechannel 131 receives a rim portion 122 of a cover 118. The rim portion122 may be formed into an internal curl or false wire 138. The materialis distorted outward by dents 117A and the dents 117A overhang thegroove or channel and have a downwardly facing portion preferably belowa plane passing through the upper edge of the seam. The downwardlyfacing portion snaps over the rim portion 122 and holds the cover 118 inplace on the can 110.

Since the rim portion 122 is disposed in the channel 131, the outer partof the rim portion 122 at 134 will engage the outer portion of the cover118 and urge it into even more firm engagement with the underside of thematerial distorted by the dents 117A. The outer peripheral surface ofthe cover 118, when in position on the can 116, will be generally flushwith the outer peripheral portion of the side 111 of the can 110 and theseam 130 will urge the rim portion 122 of the cover 118 into firmengagement with the underside of the dents 117A.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 14, a can219 is shown having an upwardly extending side 211 and a rim portion 230which lies around the outer portion of a cover 218 formed in the mannerof the can 110 of FIGS. 2, 4, 7, and 13. The cover 218 is cup shapedsimilar to that shown in FIG. 7 having a top 220 and a cylindrical outerperipheral surface 219. The cover 218 has an inwardly turned rim portion222 which lies in a groove 231 between the breast of the can 210 and theouter edges. The rim portion 222 could be made in the form of anirregularly formed edge or it could be formed of spaced internal curls,dents, or lugs. The lower edge of the cover 218 fits into the groove 231and the outwardly and upwardly extending portion of the breast whichforms the outer edge of the rim portion 222 engages the outer peripheraledge of the cover 218 adjacent the edge thereof at 234- and urges a rimportion 221 of the cover 218 under the rim formed by the outwardlydistorted material moved out by a circumferential groove 217. Thematerial moved outwardly by the groove 21 7 presents an overlying ledgeover the groove 231 and has the effect of the material moved outwardlyby the dents 117A of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 7, and 13. Theledge formed by the groove extends completely around the periphery ofthe can 210. This precents a more simplified manufacturing problem insome instances than is present in the spaced den-ts as in theembodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in the detailsthereof.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 constitutes a cupshaped cover 318 having a cylindrical peripheral surface 319 and a topportion 326. The lower edge of the rim turns inwardly at 321 and hasserrated portions 34% disposed between notches 356 formed in the edgesthereof. The cover 318 is made for use with a can such as the can shownin FIG. 1 or the can shown in FIG. 4 having an upwardly extendingportion having dents fomed in the breast thereof.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is similar tothat shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and constitutes a cover 416; however, theedge of the rim is formed with an opening of non-circular shape beinglarger at diametrically opposite parts at 446 than it is at intermediateopposite parts at 441. The cover 418 is suitable for use with a can suchas the can shown in FIG. 11 and the can shown in FIG. 4.

In order to put the cover 418 on one of these cans, the cover 418 is putin place with the enlarged diametrical portions over the dents 17 asshown in FIG. 5. Then the cover 418 is rotated to bring the rim lyingalong the reduced size diametrical portion under the overhanging dents,thus locking the cover 4-18 on the can.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 12 shows a cover 619having an oval shaped opening defined by the inwardly directed rimattached to the lower portion of the cylindrical side shown at 611. Thecover 610 may be used in combination with a can having a top portioneither defining an outwardly extending rim as the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 3, or it could be used on a can having dents inthe breast thereof like that shown in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1and wherein the top is round.

' To remove the cover 610, the operator will apply a pressure atopposite points along the elongated ends at 615 and 616. Then edges 617and 618 will spring away from each other and admit the groove 217 or thedents 17. To replace the cover 610, the same technique is used. Theforegoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modificationwithin a range of equivalents without departing from the invention whichis to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with theappended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, an aerosol type can and a cover therefor, saidaerosol can having generally cylindrical side portions and a bottom, theupper edges of said generally cylindrical side portions terminating in aseam, a top for said aerosol can, said top having a breast portiongenerally defining the frustum of a cone attached to said upper edges ofsaid side portions of said can by said seam, said breast portion havingan opening in the center thereof closed by a closure, said closurehaving a valve member disposed therein, said breast portion extendingdownwardly and outwardly and then upwardly and outwardly and terminatingin said seam between said breast portion and said side portions with agroove disposed in said breast portion between said upper edges of saidcylindrical side portions and the frusto-conical portion of said breastportion, said groove being concentric with said cylindrical sideportions of said can, said groove being below the top of said seam andimmediately adjacent thereto and having a downwardly facing portion,said breast portion having portions thereof bent outwardly and slightlyoverhanging said groove, said overhanging portions being slightly abovethe plane of the upper edge of said seam, a cup shaped cover having acylindrical wall terminating at its open end in an inwardly curled bead,the bottom of said cup shaped cover being spaced from the top of saidcan to form a protection therefor, said head having an inwardly turnededge portion, said head in its operative position snugly received insaid groove and held removably therein by said overhanging portions ofsaid breast portion, said cover having snap action with respect to saidoverhanging portions of said breast portion and said groove when placedin closed position.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said overhanging portionscomprise spaced grooves.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein spaced notches are formedin said inwardly curled bead of said cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,086,510 Punte July 6, 1937 2,256,257- Dukehart Sept. 16, 19412,403,030 Solinsky July 2, 1946 2,449,285 Elrstrom Sept. 14, 19482,713,872 Juengling July 26, 1955 2,765,960 Solr'er et al. Oct. 9, 19562,793,794 Samuel May 28, 1957 2,847,959 Switzer Aug. 19, 1958 2,906,430Henchert Sept. 29, 1959

